Statement by the electorate of the Socialist Party of Albania “Berisha’s destabilizing calls bring no benefit whatsoever to the country, but are the strongest weapon that can serve Belgrade and the dictator Milosheviç in continuing their bloodshed against the Albanians. The Socialist Party condemns these statements as warmongering, divisive, anti-democratic and anti-national.” PAGE 3

Institutional reform. The Council of Ministers approves a series of decisions and draft decisions The law on the transformation of SHIK, as well as the accompanying law on “Classified Information,” achieves to a considerable degree the necessary transparency in the intelligence agencies, clarifies ambiguities about their dependence on other institutions, and guarantees the depoliticization of this institution, removing the stigma of its past. PAGE 2

Members of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania are hereby notified that on Friday, 24 July 1998, at 14:00, a meeting of the General Steering Committee will be held in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses. The Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania

Customs police officers appeal to the President of the Republic The first clash, on an “official” scale, appears to have emerged between the General Prosecutor's Office and the General Directorate of Customs. A protest by a group of officers from the eighth customs police unit, against the Director of Investigations, is now at the office of the President of the Republic. The matter concerns an incident recorded, according to the customs police officers, last Friday at around 23:00. A truck belonging to the private company “M&D” was escorted by two customs police vehicles from the Kapshtica customs post all the way to Tirana. Quite by chance, this movement was noticed in Pogradec by a senior representative of the General Prosecutor's Office. ...According to the Director General of Customs, Bleta told “Zëri i Popullit” that the escort was based on a government decision. As for the protest by his subordinates, Bleta explained that it was entirely their initiative and that he had signed only the covering letter sent to the Presidency and the General Prosecutor's Office. Investigations Director Agim Tirana says this is not a matter of breaking the law, but of strictly applying it. Tirana explains that all the actions observed along the entire route, from Pogradec to Tirana, were highly suspicious. These suspicions were reinforced by the fact that the truck was escorted by the customs police even after it had cleared customs in Elbasan. ...According to the Director General of Customs, Bleta told “Zëri i Popullit” that the escort was based on a government decision. As for the protest by his subordinates, Bleta explained that it was entirely their initiative and that he had signed only the covering letter sent to the Presidency and the General Prosecutor's Office. PAGE 5 Director General of Customs Gëzim Bleta. Prosecutor General A. Rakipi

Shkodër, allocated funds await the projects PAGE 4

Agreement between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the “Italo-Albanese” and “Tirana - Bank” banks PAGE 7

TIRANA, THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE ALBANIAN DEVELOPMENT FUND MEETS PAGE 2

DURRËS, THE MAIN GATEWAY TO CORRIDOR 8 PAGE 4

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH PROTECTION POLICIES ARE DEFENDED PAGE 6